20 Wood Wall Paneling Makeover Ideas

Whether you already enjoy the charm of wood-paneled walls or are considering adding the warmth of wood finishes to your rooms, exciting new options are emerging. It’s an ideal time to explore the latest trends in wood paneling for your interior design.

Sometimes these wooden features can be found in the very infrastructure of your house already and can be resurfaced or renovated. There exist many ways to revamp your wood wall panels without needing to replace them, and the potential to even transform them into something inspiring and attractive. 

Here are 20 such wood wall paneling makeover, or starter, ideas to help you out. Read on to learn the details!

1. CLEAN THEM UP

Starting with the basics, it is possible to simply tackle this project with a good cleaning. You may have purchased a house that came adorned with 50-year-old wood paneling. The panels may be sound and still retaining their charm, but perhaps a bit lackluster. In this case there is no need for a demolition, and there is actually more beauty in refurbishing creatively.

A thorough cleaning can bring back the brightness and natural appeal and requires just a few straightforward steps. Firstly, steer clear of harsh dishwashers or detergents; opt instead for wood cleaning soaps and products. Mix the soap with warm water and begin cleaning the panels using circular motions, ideally with a damp microfiber towel or similar tool. If you prefer, you can wear gloves for added protection.

Once the initial wipe-down is complete, consider repeating the process or advancing to scrubbing with additional wood cleaners, oils, or sprays. This will effectively eliminate any built-up residues while preserving the unique character of the wood. Avoid leaving your wood panels damp for extended periods; instead, continuously wipe them dry with a soft towel. By following these steps, you’ll breathe new life into your time-worn panels, revealing their rejuvenated splendor.

2. APPLY A COAT OF VARNISH

A step up from simply cleaning your old wood paneled walls would be to add a varnish. This can further restore your walls and give them a new lease of life while also allowing you to play with the overall coloration, glossiness, and texture of the wood. 

You would first begin with the cleaning process described earlier. In this case, however, it is especially important to thoroughly dust and wipe off the grooves between the panels, as well as the wood panels themselves, ideally with mineral turpentine to remove the last traces of dust and residues. After everything is clean, smooth and dry, you can apply a coat of varnish, followed by a second coat if necessary.

3. REFINISH FOR A RUSTIC LOOK

The look of weathered wood can add a homely, rustic charm to an interior. Simply sanding the old wood panel with sandpaper or an orbital sander can make the worn imperfections look like intentionally added character. Rounding off edges and corners can enhance the aged look as well. Taking it a step further, hammering or using a metallic chain, or similar tools, can create divots and irregular patterns. 

Coloration can also play an important role in defining the desired look. At home items such as apple cider vinegar and black tea can be brushed onto the boards, combining the acidity to remove dirt with the tea tint to stain or darken; baking soda solutions also produce excellent results for this. Using different amounts and variations of vinegar, teas, and water-based wood conditioners and stainers can produce different results for different desired wood tones and levels of aging. 

Finally, using an awl, nails, or other tools for scratching and puncturing the boards can create irregular holes and added texture to make the aging effect even more convincing. This can also open up the fibers and knots in the wooden panels to take on the appearance of reclaimed wood, adding to the rustic appeal.

While darker woods give a refined and classic look, lighter woods or whitewashed wood breathes freshness and all around lightness into the atmosphere. Consequently, this lightness also produces a feeling of openness and modern elegance. 

Luckily, achieving this look is also quite easy. As before, this begins with giving the surface a good cleaning with soaps or dish detergent and water. Applying a thin coat of latex primer after sanding the wood will help to bind the color to the surface. Then, applying several coats of white latex paint will deliver a whitewashed look of varying depth, depending on the desired outcome.

Painting your existing wood wall panels is another easy option for an update. Any unwanted gaps and grooves can be filled up with caulk for a smoother look. After a good cleaning and buffing the wall panels can be painted any color you choose, based on your desired mood or aesthetic for the room. Having one solid color will bring unity and the look of a more complete wall. More vibrant or bold colors can even make this into an accent wall or a focal point for your room as well. On the other hand, painting the panels with a variation of colors can create attractive designs or patterns. This strategy can also help to divide up the room or define different spaces based on their associated color, design, or patterned wall.

Even darker, dim shades of wood panels can be touched up to make a room look stylish and more tranquil. This moody, toned-down appeal is great for bedrooms, which are our spaces to retreat, rest and sleep, and therefore require less stimulation. These slightly more subdued panel colors can be continued onto other walls, or even headboard to make a statement or maximize that feeling of refuge and comfort. 

When it comes to kids’ rooms, paint colors may play an even more important role, as children have stronger color preferences, along with various fun themes, and want to be in a space that is vibrant and positively stimulating to improve their mood and creativity. Here it is possible to experiment with more painting styles and techniques. For example, different parts of the wooden panels can be painted in different colors, even between the grooves. Making the slots between the panels a darker paint color, and the panels themselves a different color can accentuate the slatted look of the panels or add character reminiscent of nature, a cabin in the woods, or even a circus tent!

Going a different route, wooden walls or panels can be covered with sectioned wallpaper, or other-stick on prints or textures, to generate a unique and innovative look. The myriad of designs and colors, combined with the segmented look of the panels, brings movement and added detail to the once simple walls. Even neutral, textured wallpapers can have an impact, as they maintain the slatted look with different grains or finishes while hiding any flaws from the original panels underneath.

As far as refurbishing costs, this option is as simple as sanding the wooden panels before installing the wallpaper on it. Depending on the look or application, the wallpaper can be cut into sections or strips to match the panels beforehand. If there are large cracks or imperfections, ensure to fill them up with sealing compound to have a smooth, clean surface before fixing on the wallpaper.

Wainscoting can give a room a more traditional or classic look. Additionally it plays with scale and proportion by dividing the room up horizontally. The bottom third (or fourth) of the room is the part that gets covered by the wainscot, which is about the height of the backrest of chairs and couches. This gives a subtle subliminal feeling of being submerged within the color and texture of the wainscot when you’re sitting down, creating a sense of shelter and making the atmosphere more cozy. 

This element can be achieved by using your already existing wooden panels, but cutting them down to around 1/3rd of the height. You can adjust the design or placement of your paneling as you wish, along with adding molding, caps (at the top), or any additional details to achieve your desired design. To finish the look you can paint or polish your panels, depending on the look you are going for. A more classic look would feature immaculate white paneling, while a more naturalistic and earthy aesthetic would retain the crude, natural wood.

Wood panels are typically placed horizontally or vertically along a surface. This is great when it comes to giving a room the illusion of height, or spaciousness. However, it is also becoming more common to use diagonal placement, or even zigzagging patterns such as Herringbone or Chevron. 

Simply changing the rotation in this way can give the room a facelift. Since this essentially becomes a giant, textured pattern across an entire wall, it has the potential of making a huge impact all on its own without needing to add much else to the room, as far as other patterns, textures or colors. Ultimately you are able to add depth and drama, creating a beautiful focal point without needing to dispose of your wood panels.

Following the idea of breaking up the typical uniform look of slats, it is another option to create geometric patterns with the wooden panels. Geometric shapes can be incorporated into, or on top of, the existing panels. This can be achieved by cutting the panels to position these shapes into the wall, or through adhering them onto the surface of the panels directly. The presence of these shapes can add a whole new character or concept to the room. These shapes can easily tie in with the already existing patterns and objects found throughout the room.

These geometric patterns can be incorporated into your design in various creative ways. The simplest of these would be through the use of paint, colored tape or other adhesives, or as cutouts on the wall panels. For added intentionality, geometric tiles made of wood, metals, or even acoustic tiles, can add an extra layer of texture, design, and also increase functionality, as would be the case with acoustic tiles and their sound absorbing qualities.

Stenciling the wood panels, as an alternative to painting or covering with wallpapers, is also an affordable alternative to revive your wall panels. With the expansive selection of stencils that exist, it is easy to achieve any look, from elegant text on the walls to Art Deco fans and everything in between. Stencils add art, composition and dimensionality to otherwise flat wooden panels and surfaces to make an interior space more creative and inspiring.

11. USE WALL DECALS

Wall decals can play a vital role when it comes to upgrading old wooden panels. Instead of covering the entire wall with wallpapers, you may consider using them sparingly to create attractive designs, leaving room for blank space in between to appreciate and compliment the existing wood material. Since these are available in varying sizes and a multitude of designs and colors, you can choose the specific design that gives the perfect finishing touch to your age-old wooden panel. Additionally, teaming these with other wall art can help to tie in a specific theme or character to the room.

Going with a trending design technique, you can achieve a board and batten framework from your existing wooden wall panels. Adding raised wooden strips in between the wood planks at the seams creates the batten framing. The planks, or boards, in between the batten frames could be flushed together or fused with caulking to make them look like wider boards for a more typical finish. 

Pinewood is a great option to make the thin wood strips out of. There also exist plenty of imitation board and batten designs with plywood boards or printed and textured wood patterns on acoustic boards or fiber cement or MDF boards, for example. These boards can be painted over as well, as they are typically seen in white or any color that matches the decor or aesthetic of the room.

Having a home overpowered by wood paneling and perhaps other wood finishes and furnishings can also be overwhelming and outdated. In this case it is not optimal to completely remove and replace all the panels, due to the cost implications and amount of work, but even minimizing the predominance of wood can generate a fresh look. This option would entail turning at least some of the wooden panels into regular walls to break up the monotony.

You can achieve this by applying plaster to the wood wall panels while ensuring to seal all cracks and gaps in between with caulking compound. After this has dried off, buff and sand down the wall. Next, coat the wall panels with primer and then apply a second coat of plaster. This will deliver a smooth finish with a glossy sheen and look like a regular wall after painting.

Rather than embarking on a project to treat or refurbish your paneling, you can opt for adding some art to create a gallery wall. There exist limitless options from paintings and photos, to ornate mirrors and wall-mounted sculptural elements for this. Whatever you put on your walls will define the appeal and overall feel of your room. 

The combination of these items with your wood paneling could generate a very unique and charming result. Perhaps just adding a light, neutral paint color, or solid dark color could turn your paneling into the perfect canvas without distracting too much from the art being featured on top. Lighting can also help to accentuate these pieces through the use of small spotlights, recessed lighting, uplighting, or other individual light fixtures.

15. DISGUISE WITH SHELVES

Shelving is an attractive and functional option to divide up a wall while also adding design. These can be used as bookshelves, which add beautiful pops of color with each unique book cover or any visible white pages in between. Another popular option is filling these shelves with real or artificial plants in order to add beauty and an element of nature through biophilic design. 

Depending on the design, these shelves can work in with the existing wood paneling, perhaps matching it or looking like an extension of the same wood paneling that it is mounted upon to give it a more cohesive look. Another idea could be to generate the opposite effect by making the shelves a completely different color or made from a different complementing material in order to add contrast and depth.

Staying with the trend of natural materials, wooden panels can be combined with a variety of stone or ceramic panels which add a rich and luxurious touch. A trending combination seen in high end apartments involves the use of wooden slats with marble panels, which are typically black or white marble. These marble finishes are often strategically placed to break up the repeating wooden panels or slats, or they can also appear as countertops, backsplashes, or flooring.

Agate or faux agate can also be used instead of marble if you are looking for the organic banded detail of the stone, but in a wider variety of colors. Granites, limestone, and ceramic panels can also pair well with wooden panels and slats to elevate the room, depending on the specific texture and color combination you are looking for.

Wood panels are easy to ornament due to the nature of wood, which can be easily shaped, treated, drilled into and adhered to compared to most other materials. Tiles, mosaics, metals, glass, even pennies can be adhered to wood panel walls to create a distinctive look. These smaller scaled features add an incredible layer of detail and texture for accenting walls. They can brighten up a room by using reflective, shiny materials, or create amazing visual effects through patterns. Aside from the visual experience, these enchanting designs also present us with walls that are irresistible to touch, or make us want to come up for a closer look. In a way it can turn simple walls and paneling into an interactive design experience. These breathtaking designs can be created with otherwise underwhelming ornaments and objects, and just a bit of glue or other adhesive solution or method.

If your old wooden panels have unattractive, worn joints, this alone can bring down the appearance of the paneling as a whole. The easiest way to deal with this issue is by filling up these joints with a compound, of which many options are available and even come in different colors. Once again, it will be important to start with some cleaning to take off the grime, followed by a light sanding, preferably with fine-grit sandpaper, and then cleaning off the residue with a soft cloth. Finally you can apply the joint compound and smoothen it again using sandpaper. This will essentially make the grooves disappear to create a wall.

Alternatively, you could use this opportunity to accentuate the grooves. Filling them with colored caulking, or a different material like wood, or metal will create a frame for the panels or add an element to divide up the wall to add depth and contrast. You could even use both methods by using some caulking to combine wood panels together to make a larger wall panel, and then use a different color or material to divide up the wall at different widths or intervals.

Integrating a trellis feature into a wood-paneled wall offers a captivating fusion of nature-inspired aesthetics and contemporary interior design. Trellises are usually used in outdoor gardens for climbing or intertwining plants. This could be replicated using real or artificial plants indoors as well. Against the backdrop of the warm, earthy tones of the wood paneling, the trellis introduces depth and texture, creating a visually dynamic biophilic focal point within the room. Since trellises can be made out of wood or dark metal strips of varying thicknesses, they can even make a sculptural focal point all on their own as well.

Wood wall panels can be combined with, or updated through the use of trending architectural wall paneling ideas, which can be made from a variety of core materials such as acrylic, gypsum, MDF, metal, glass, resin, and many more, depending on which is most suitable for your project style and budget.

Combining or substituting wood with these materials can generate added benefits in the realm of acoustics. Busy roads, construction or noisy neighbors are a few of the sound disturbing factors we don’t always take into consideration until it’s too late. In corporate offices and commercial spaces, for example, the use of sound-absorbing interior wall panels can deliver a premier design and acoustic solution, as these contain high-quality acoustic fibers and felt.

These designer acoustic felt wall panels are available in a wide range of colors, textures, and even printed patterns and images. The combination of naturalistic wood paneling with the expansive design potential of these acoustic wall panels has the potential to make an impactful difference or statement, while bringing in the practicality of noise control. The finished product of these walls can even deliver a tactile and more immersive experience.

The use of designed interior wall panels comes in a wide range of solutions and variations that can benefit our spaces in a multitude of ways. Aside from paneling these products can range from geometric tiles to organic forms and adding them to your existing paneling does not require a rebuild nor any surface treatment. These can be easily mounted onto the existing walls or wall panels to enrich the decoration. Moreover, these are cost-effective solutions that require little cleaning or upkeep.